Senior Fisheries Data Scientist – Salmon Survival, Migration, Mark-Recapture Modeling

Lynker

Senior Fisheries Data Scientist supporting NOAA Fisheries with statistical analysis of salmon survival and migration. Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on ecological knowledge and data analysis.

Posted 7/3/2026contractSeattle • Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $90,000 - $125,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

LinuxShell Scripting

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide statistical analysis to inform management decisions
Statistically analyze spatial and temporal variability in processes experienced by migrating salmon in river systems
Analyze survival and migration patterns through hydropower systems and across salmon life cycles
Analyze and generate relationships between fish responses, including density, growth, survival, and migration rate, and stressors such as environmental or ecological conditions, habitat metrics, and management actions
Develop novel probabilistic mathematical and simulation models representing unique and complex ecological and behavioral processes using modern statistical methods
Provide statistical support for other researchers during study design and analysis
Organize and curate ecological datasets relevant to mark-recapture modeling needs
Document and share reproducible research workflows and analytical protocols to support scientific transparency and peer collaboration
Publish reports and scientific papers, and present results at regional and national meetings and scientific conferences, as needed
Assist with field collection of fish and environmental data in freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore marine environments of the West Coast region, as needed
Support analysis products archived in accessible and organized formats, including final data and models shared through public scientific repositories or interactive research dashboards
Prepare written status reports and other ad hoc communications, as needed

Requirements

What you’ll need

PhD degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a field of study related to the requirements of the task order, with emphasis in statistics, mathematics, fisheries, ecology, or the natural sciences
Strong quantitative background with a solid foundation and extensive coursework in statistics and probability
Ten or more years of experience related to the task order, including familiarity with the species and habitats managed by NOAA Fisheries in the West Coast region
Advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for two years, MS, or four years, PhD, of experience
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Experience writing reports and publishing peer-reviewed articles
Strong quantitative skills, including extensive experience in statistical modeling and data analysis
Extensive experience conducting analyses and coding in R
Experience with programs Stan and JAGS
Experience with open science concepts
Strong computational skills, including the ability to manipulate large environmental datasets within a command-line environment, such as Linux/shell scripting, to support statistical workflows
Familiarity interpreting or interfacing with C or C++ code within a scientific modeling context
Familiarity with common software including Google Suite and Microsoft Office
Ability to manage workload, stay organized, and produce high-quality work products efficiently
Ability to work both independently and on interdisciplinary teams
Valid driver’s license, maintained during the period of performance

Benefits

Comp & perks

Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we’re all company owners!
Flexible spending accounts
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Short- and long-term disability insurance
Life and accident insurance
Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
Employee Referral Program
Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
Personalized career growth plans for every employee

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Statistical AnalysisProbabilistic Mathematical ModelingData AnalysisMark-Recapture ModelingStatistical WorkflowsLinux/Shell ScriptingEcological Data CurationQuantitative ResearchSurvival And Migration AnalysisEnvironmental Dataset Manipulation

Soft Skills

Excellent Verbal CommunicationExcellent Written CommunicationOrganizational SkillsAbility To Work IndependentlyTeam Collaboration

Certifications

Valid Driver’s License